UNICEF hosts session on Avian Influenza

Residents of the Caribbean are urged to be ready for Avian Influenza also known as Bird Flu or H5N1 virus and Human Pandemic Influenza in the event that the Caribbean is hit with an influenza Pandemic.{{more}}

This call was made during a Strategic Communication for Avian Influenza and Human Pandemic Influenza training workshop, which took place in Barbados from May 29-30.

The workshop, which was conducted by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) trained Caribbean journalists in effective means of communicating information about Bird Flu to the public.

Speaking at the opening ceremony on Tuesday, UNICEF representative Dr. Paulo Fores told participants that even though there have been no reports of Bird Flu in the region, he believes an influenza pandemic may soon occur in the region.

He however stated that at this stage he was unable to say how severe the pandemic would be or how prepared we would be in the event that there is an outbreak.

Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Stein Hansen told the participants that the key in the fight against Avian Influenza and the possible human pandemic is to break down the barriers of ignorance and fear.

Also addressing the participants on preparedness and response to the threat of an outbreak of Avian influenza in poultry in the Caribbean, was Cedric Lazarus of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) who informed

participants that his organization is preparing for the virus by enhancing their veterinary laboratory diagnostic capability.

According to Lazarus, the persons most prone to contracting the virus are those involved with poultry farming and processing, those involved in backyard poultry farming and children who play with back yard poultry.

Avian influenza is mainly contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys very sick and kill them.

It is rare for consumers to contract the virus once certain precautions are taken. Consumers are urged to wash their hands after direct contact with birds, wash eggs before use and boil them properly, ensure that meat is boiled properly without leaving any pink spots.

Several educative programmes are being conducted by various organization to inform farmers, veterinarians, those having direct contact with animals, the governments and the media about the disease and how they can prepare themselves for the virus should it occur.